A bizarre story out of southwest Louisiana. A four-year-old was found dead Monday in a lake behind the Vinton Welcome Center, while her one-year-old brother was found alive in a ditch along I-10….
cut 2 (34) “….I’m Brooke Thorington”.

GOP megadonor Lane Grigsby is still pushing for Louisiana lawmakers to hold a constitutional convention this year, but there’s no indication the state Senate is interested in holding one. A special session would be needed for lawmakers to vote for a constitutional convention. Grigsby and other Republicans want a convention to make changes to the constitution to provide legislators more flexibility during tough budget times.

Louisiana K-3 public school students showed a ten-percent improvement in reading scores from the start of the last school year to the end. The results were even higher for kindergarten and first graders. Deputy Superintendent of Education Dr. Jenna Chaisson says the state used a literacy screener to test the reading levels of their youngest students…
Cut 24 (12) “…end of the school year.”
Chaisson says the overall improvement reflects the effectiveness of the state’s literacy plan, which includes phonics instruction and teacher training. She emphasized the need for continued improvement.

A recent nationwide survey of small business owners finds inflation remains the top problem, but optimism is at its highest point since December 2023. NFIB’s Todd Pack says their Small Business Optimism Index is up to 91.5 but that’s still below average…
Cut 7 (06) “…ninety-eight.”

A one year old child is miraculously still alive after spending two days outside alone, along I-10 in Calcasieu Parish, apparently abandoned by his mother. Sheriff Stitch Guillory says a truck driver spotted the child in a ditch…
cut 11 (11) “…out there”
But Guillory says the toddler’s four-year-old brother was found dead in a pond at the Vinton Welcome Center. An autopsy will determine if murder charges will come down on the children’s mother, who was arrested in Mississippi.

The Louisiana Department of Education says 56-percent of K-through-third graders were reading at grade level at the end of the school year, that’s up from 45-percent at the beginning of the year. Deputy Superintendent of Education Doctor Jenna Chaisson…
cut 6 (09) “….keep up that work”

The Colorado State Hurricane Forecast Team has increased their storm total for the 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season. They are now predicting 25 named storms, 12 hurricanes and six major hurricanes. A slight increase from their forecast predictions issued in April and June. Nick Mesa says the fact that Beryl became the earliest Category Five on record is a reason for the revised forecast…
cut 14 (09) “…hyperactive season”

Small businesses continue to have trouble finding workers. Todd Pack has some results from the latest NFIB survey….
cut 9 (11) “….hiring for”
Pack says construction, transportation and retail businesses are having the most trouble

Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Stitch Guillory says a one-year-old child is miraculously alive after spending a couple of days, alone outside. Guillory says a passing truck driver spotted the toddler in a ditch along I-10….
cut 12 (11) “…immediately”
Guillory says the infant’s four-year-old brother was found dead in a lake near the Vinton Welcome Center. The children’s mother is in police custody an autopsy will determine if she will face murder charges.

The Colorado State Hurricane Forecast Team has upped their storm total prediction to 25 named storms this year, 12 hurricanes and six major hurricanes. Nick Mesa is with the C-S-U Forecast Team…
cut 15 (10) “….officials”

The Louisiana Department of Education is reporting a 10-percent improvement in reading scores for K-through 3rd grade students during the 2023-24 school year. Sean Richardson has more…
Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Louisiana lawmakers have voted not to hold an override veto session. That means the 29 bills Governor Landry vetoed will stand, plus his line-item vetoes in the budget and the capital outlay budget.

Meanwhile GOP megadonor Lane Grigsby is still pushing for Louisiana lawmakers to hold a constitutional convention, but there’s no indication the Louisiana Senate is interested in holding a constitutional convention.

A bizarre story out of southwest Louisiana. A four-year-old was found dead Monday in a lake behind the Vinton Welcome Center, while her one-year-old brother was found alive in a ditch along I-10….
cut 2 (34) “….I’m Brooke Thorington”

U-S Senator Bill Cassidy says President Joe Biden should take a cognitive test and the results should be made public. Cassidy has concerns Mr. Biden would not perform well on that cognitive test…
cut 19 (08) “…of the United States”
Biden says he’s staying in the presidential race and expects to beat Donald Trump.

A recent nationwide survey of small business owners finds inflation remains the top problem. Louisiana NFIB spokesperson Todd Pack says inflation is not rising as fast as it did a few months ago, but it’s still increasing…
Cut 8 (10) “…as it did.”
Pack says hiring also continues to be an issue for small business owners.

The state Department of Education says there was a ten-percent increase in reading on grade level for K-through-3rd graders during the last school year. That’s based on results of a literacy screener given at the beginning and end of the school year. Deputy Superintendent Doctor Jenna Chaisson says the screener assesses reading ability to identify areas needing improvement and progress….
cut 5 (10) “….achievement level”
The overall improvement reflects the effectiveness of the state’s literacy plan, which includes phonics instruction and teacher training.

Twenty-five-year-old Aaliyah (Ah-lee-ha) Jack of Lake Charles was arrested in Mississippi after the body of her four-year-old son was found Monday in a body of water behind the Vinton Welcome Center. But Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Stitch Guillory says her one-year-old child was found alive about six miles away in a ditch on I-10. Guillory says it’s a miracle the child is alive. He says an autopsy will be performed on the four-year-old.
cut 10 (07) “…reveal that.”
For now Jack has been arrested for failure to report a missing child.

A recent nationwide survey of small business owners finds inflation remains the top problem, but optimism is at its highest point since December 2023. NFIB’s Todd Pack says their Small Business Optimism Index is up to 91.5 but that’s still below average…
Cut 7 (06) “…ninety-eight.”

Colorado State University has updated its 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook; now they’re calling for an even busier season. Mel Bridges has the details.
Cut 3 (29) “…I’m Mel Bridges.”

There are still about seven thousand customers who are without power in northwest Louisiana as a result of Beryl. Most of the outages are in Bossier and Desoto parishes.

Republican Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy had some strong words about President Biden’s health and rumored cognitive issues after his dismal performance in the June 27th Debate. Cassidy says it’s best for the country if Biden isn’t re-elected.
Cut 13 (13) “…absurd.”
But New Orleans Democratic Congressman Troy Carter says the American people should look at 3.5 years of the Biden Administration, no just one bad night.
Cut 5 (11) “…promises kept
Carter says the President was strong, clear and energized when speaking in a Zoom with Congressional Democrats yesterday.

In an effort to reduce crashes on the I-10 Atchafalaya Basin Bridge, DOTD has installed “Your speed’ feedback signs to alert motorists who are driving over the 60-mile per hour speed limit…
cut 12 (06) “…Basin Bridge”
That’s DOTD spokesperson Rodney Mallett, who says they’ve raised the speed limit for trucks to 60 miles per hour to match the speed limit for cars. He says it’s safer if everyone is driving the same speed limit.

Tropical Storm Beryl spawned numerous tornadoes as it moved past northwestern Louisiana yesterday. Mark Pierce with the Desoto Parish Sheriff’s office says at one time yesterday he was monitoring four twisters moving through the parish…
cut 9 (12) “…Mansfield”
Pierce says the worst damage occurred south of Mansfield in the town of Lula.

The four-year-old child found floating in the water behind the Vinton Welcome Center Monday afternoon has been identified and his mother has been arrested in Mississippi. His one-year-old brother, being called “our miracle baby” by Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Stitch Guillory was found alive crawling in a ditch near I-10. He was spotted by a trucker. Authorities say the one-year-old seemed to be okay after being examined at a hospital. The four-year-old’s body was sent to Beaumont for an autopsy. CPSO says there were no obvious signs of injuries, but the investigation continues.

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) announced new measures to improve safety on the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge. This includes the installation of new speed limit signs and “your speed” feedback signs. DOTD Spokesperson Rodney Mallett…

Cut 10 (11) “…speeding and tailgating.”

The speed limit will be 60 mph for all vehicles, replacing the previous limits of 55 mph for trucks and trucks will still be restricted to the right lane.

Louisiana’s only Democrat in Congress, Troy Carter, says despite the bad performance in the debate, he still supports President Biden’s re-election bid.
Cut 1 (32) …I’m Sean Richardson.”

But Republican U-S Senator Bill Cassidy said today, Mr. Biden should step down. Cassidy, who is also a medical doctor, says patients who present similar cognitive issues, it usually continues and accelerates…
cut 14 (08) “….of the United States” .

Physician and Louisiana Republican Senator Bill Cassidy had some strong words about President Biden’s health and rumored cognitive issues. Cassidy was asked if he believes the 25^th Amendment should be invoked…

Cut 15 (13) “…not true.”

The 25th Amendment is invoked when a president is unable to perform their duties and the vice president becomes president.

Louisiana’s only Democratic Congressman, Troy Carter, says the President had a bad night, but Trump has had bad days too.

Cut 4 (09) “…get out of the race.”

The second presidential debate is scheduled for September 10^th.

Tropical Storm Beryl claimed the life of a 31-year-old Benton woman Monday after a tree fell on her home. Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office Lt. Matt Gaydos (gay-dess) says the fatality happened in northeast Benton.

Cut 6 (12) “…almost immediately.”

In Desoto Parish, Mark Pierce with the DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s office says they also received storm damage from Beryl. He says there was notable damage in the Lula community where Beulah Baptist Church appears to be destroyed.

Cut 8 (12)  “…foundation.”

Pierce says at one time yesterday he was monitoring four twisters moving through the parish.

Louisiana Republican Senator Bill Cassidy believes calls for President Biden to step aside as the Democratic nominee and even step down from office should be heard. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (32)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

Louisiana’s only Democratic Congressman, Troy Carter, says even though the President had a bad night that doesn’t mean he’s not fit for office…

Cut 3 (10) “…debate performance.”

The President sent a letter to Congressional Democrats telling them he’s firmly committed to staying in the race and beating Donald Trump.

The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office is investigating the discovery of a child’s body found floating in the water behind the Vinton Welcome Center on Monday afternoon. The CPSO Marine Division recovered the body of an African American Child after a witness reported seeing the body. Investigators checked with local agencies in the area and in Texas but no one matching the description has been reported missing. CPSO says there were no obvious signs of injuries, but the investigation continues and the coroner with determine the cause of death.

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) announces new measures to improve safety on the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge. This includes the installation of new speed limit signs and “your speed” feedback signs. DOTD Spokesperson Rodney Mallett…

Cut 10 (11) “…speeding and tailgating.”

The speed limit will be 60 mph for all vehicles, replacing the previous limits of 55 mph for trucks. Trucks will still be restricted to the right lane.

Louisiana’s only Democrat in Congress, Troy Carter, says despite the bad performance in the debate, he still supports President Biden’s re-election bid.
Cut 1 (32) …I’m Sean Richardson.”

But Republican U-S Senator Bill Cassidy said today, Mr. Biden should step down. Cassidy, who is also a medical doctor, says patients who present similar cognitive issues, it usually continues and accelerates…
cut 14 (08) “….of the United States” .

According to power-outage-dot-u-s, about 13-thousand customers are still without power as a result of yesterday’s severe weather from Tropical Storm Beyrl. About 55-hundred customers are without power in Bossier Parish. Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office Lt. Matt Gaydos says deputies responded to 72 calls during the storm…
cut 7 (10) “….rolls through here”
A 31-year-old woman was killed in Benton when a tree fell on her home.

In an effort to reduce crashes on the I-10 Atchafalaya Basin Bridge, DOTD has installed “Your speed’ feedback signs to alert motorists who are driving over the 60-mile per hour speed limit…
cut 12 (06) “…Basin Bridge”
That’s DOTD spokesperson Rodney Mallett, who says they’ve raised the speed limit for trucks to 60 miles per hour to match the speed limit for cars. He says it’s safer if everyone is driving the same speed limit.